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Former Beavercreek pitcher to make major-league debut
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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Former Beavercreek High School pitcher Justin Masterson is being called up by the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and will make his major-league debut today, April 24, against the Los Angeles Angels in Fenway Park.
Masterson, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound right-hander whose fastball has been clocked at 99 miles per hour, got the news Wednesday in Portland, Maine, where he's been pitching for Boston's Class AA Eastern League affiliate.
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He'll fill in for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has been ill.
"It's pretty darn special," said Beavercreek coach Rick Woolf, who confirmed the information. "The coaches at Portland didn't know how many starts he'd make, but they told him if he pitches as well in Boston as he has in Portland, they'd never see him again."
The Red Sox are flying Justin's parents, Mark and Judy Masterson, in for the 1:35 p.m. first pitch.
Born in Jamaica, where his parents were missionaries, the 23-year-old Masterson is 1-0 this season with a 0.95 ERA. In 19 innings, he's given up 14 hits, two earned runs and five walks while striking out 23. Opponents are hitting .209 against him.
The 2003 Beavercreek grad attended Bethel College in Indiana, then played for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. The Red Sox made Masterson a second-round draft choice in 2005, giving him a $510,000 signing bonus.
He's been steadily moving through the Boston system.
"And," Wolf added, "he is the most incredible young man you'll ever want to meet. He's humble and the whole nine yards."
Comments
By Jim
May 19, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
Great job Justin! I pitched for Beavercreek from ‘81-‘83 and wish it could have been me to get where you are!..LOL..but it is good to hear of your success and from what I have heard, you are a nice, hard working young man!..Keep working hard and you will be up there soon!..The harder you work the luckier you get!
By Mark
April 26, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Justin has a nasty sinker and he is well composed. The Sox will benefit from his delivery and the Majors will benefit from his integrity. I taught Justin in middle school and I can attest for his character. What a stand up guy!
By kevin
April 25, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
Why don’t the reds scout these local kids? They let Brandon Webb get away and look at what he is doing in Arizona. They don’t pay any attention to what is happening in front of there noses.
By kevin
April 25, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
Why don’t the reds look at these local kids instead of looking at players not even from around here. Heck they let Brandon Webb get by them. Look at what hes doing now. Shows you where there priorities lie.
By Michael
April 25, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
As of 3 p.m., if you went to yahoo.com and looked at the bottom right for today’s top searches, Justin Masterson is No. 10. That’s neat.
By Alice1939
April 25, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
What a quality young man. He is a very special person and player. We are lucky enough to know him and his family as we also belong to the Missionary Church. He has a beautiful testimony and can he pitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck Justin and may the Lord bless you richly and also your beautiful wife.
By Chavez7
April 25, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Bill! - 6ip, 1r, 2h. Wow great outing. And at Fenway no less. Keep it up Justin!
By zeke
April 25, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
You mean like Belisle (shelled this week), or Bailey (shelled in preseason)?
By Kev.
April 25, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
If the Reds would give their young talent a chance like this maybe they to would not have the loosing record they have today. (last place in the central and 9 and 14).
By danny
April 24, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this
justin masterson is the number 8 prospect in the major leagues. i seen him pitch in fort meyers this year when i went down for spring training and he throws hard and has good off speed stuff. he has alot of potential and will most likely make the starting rotation in the next couple years for the sox. they sent him back to portland tonight after the game but give it time he will be back. good luck masterson
By scott
April 24, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
No dice for the replacement for Dice-K. Bosox bullpen blew it. It’s 5-3 Halos.
By Laura
April 24, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
And you’re wrong Bill - 4 up, 3 outs, 1 walk, 1 KO, 2 ground outs.
By Laura
April 24, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
How exciting for Justin! Having gone to school with him and been friends with his sister, I can attest to the fact that he is a great guy and super humble. Couldn’t have happened to a better person. Best of luck, Justin!
By 12penguins
April 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
Looks like my mistake. I would have sworn that Tim Henry made the majors in the early 80’s bu baseball almanac will not back me up on that one…
Matters not..
By 12penguins
April 24, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Likely Beavercreek’s first major leaguer since Tim Henry. Good luck young man.
By Bill
April 24, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Figgins, Matthews, Guerrero, Anderson, Hunter, Kotchman.
He will be lucky to make it out of the 1st inning.
By Michael
April 24, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
He moved through the ranks pretty fast, so that’s a good indicator that he can be successful. It sounds like he’s a good kid from a good family. Good luck!